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| Dr. Mashhud Adenrele Fashola |
Source/Credit: Nigerian Compass
By NC Staff | January 30, 2011
The incessant attacks by religious fanatics in the country have continued to be a serious concern to both the government and ordinary citizens. Responsibility for the last attack in Jos, Plateau State, in particular has been linked to the Boko Haram, an anti-Western education Islamic sect. In this interview with SEGUN OTOKITI, Dr.Mashhud Adenrele Fashola, the Amir of Ahmadiyya Muslim Nigeria, says he sees the religious crises in the North as outside the usual Muslim-Christian borders. He shares his view on what he thinks the real problem is.
The recent religious killings in the North is believed by many to have been perpetrated by an Islamic sect, Boko Haram. How do you feel about this as an Islamic leader?
It is very unfortunate that the devil has captured mankind. It is also very sad. We do not know the source of these bomb blasts. But as far as I am concerned, it is not Islamic. Islam teaches that a Muslim is the best human being, someone who is peace loving and benevolent to all, regardless of tribe or religion. In many verses of the Quran, it is stated that let there be no compulsion in the matters of religion.
It is not right to compel people in matters of religion. People should have the freewill to choose what is right or wrong. The Almighty dopes not compel any one. For instance, the Holy book says, “ you are a giver of glad tidings, you have no authority on how people should comport themselves. The Holy prophet,(SAW) does not have the right over anyone. I don’t have that right. Of course, I can always defend my right but I don’t have the right to lord it over anyone. The killing cannot be Islamic. It is diabolic and satanic. The killing of innocent people is even more so. Religion does not preach wickedness. On the issue of form or belonging to religious sects, People have the right to form sects. . In fact, the Quran says Muslims will have 73 sects. But there will only be one true sect.The Quran was sent to all mankind. It says many things about ones neighbor. It says that you must love your neighbour, protect him, protect his interest etc. You must be at peace with your neighbour. You cannot love your neighbour and at the same time lift up your hand to kill or strike him dead. God is gracious. He is the God of all grace. Islam teaches that salvation is attained by God’s Grace, and that God bestows His Grace upon those who have both inner belief and good works. The difference, then, between Western Christianity and Islam is not that one religion believes inner faith is important while the other does not; indeed, both Western Christianity and Islam believe that inner belief is the most integral factor for attaining salvation. The difference is that Islam teaches that although belief is the most important factor, it is not the only one. In order to attain salvation, inner belief must be coupled with good works. He is the most gracious, the most merciful. He has set the whole earth equally. That is why we in the Ahmadiyya Jumaat say love for all, hatred for none. We do not discriminate.
What should government be doing to ensure peace and prevent religious crisis in the country? Government has a big role to play in maintaining peace in Nigeria. The crisis and killings have persisted for too long. I personally hold government responsible for the recurring crisis. For how long can we continue like this? Government should arrest the perpetrators and bring them to book. Unless they do so, there will be no peace in the land. The Inspector General of Police should let us know their leaders. They should identify the particular sects responsible. We need to know those sponsoring them. For now the people are faceless. We don’t know them. And we need to know them.
Should all blame goes to government over the recuring crisis, given the claims that attacks are sometime sponsored by religious or political leaders?
I am blaming government because Government’s first responsibility is to saveguard lives and properties irrespective of tribe or religion. No one can be more powerful than government. This is their first responsibility. The establishment of justice for all citizens of the state, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, is one of the major purposes of the Islamic system of government. Corruption, bribery, abuse of authority, the creation of social conflict for personal or group benefit, torture, exploitation and oppression, are all evils against which the Islamic system must struggle. Any government that cannot provide this basic function has failed. Why do I say Government has failed? I am saying so because they have failed to protect the innocent. Here in Lagos, we have also seen how people who buy property suffer in the hands of thugs (Omo Onile), who hold people to ransom. They make all sorts of demands on people who purchase property legitimately. Is this right? It cannot be right. These killings persist because government has failed. For government to be sincere, it has to check every form of violence against innocent citizens. The religious leaders have been doing a lot. That is why I am saying that government has so much to do to cleaning up the system. We are all one. We are the reflection of God Almighty. Nobody can claim under Islam that they are fighting for God by killing the innocent. Nobody can fight for God. He is God. He can defend himself; He can destroy whoever He wishes to destroy. Those perpetuating this evil are evil men. Their actions are barbaric and animalistic!
Do you foresee any end to the crisis?
There is a greater tendency for more attacks because the more there are counter attacks, the more people will retaliate. It is only natural that people whose relatives were killed will want to retaliate. It is the government that can stop this. For instance, when there was crisis in North during the June 12 issue, many Yoruba in the North fled from Jos for fear of death and retaliation. In recent times, the crisis is between Plateau indigenes and the Hausa Fulanis. Both sides have been using religion as excuse for personal and ethnic grievances. This has nothing to do with serving God. This is not religion. It is personal. It is biased. Those perpetuating these evil acts are abusing religion, they are exploiting religion. They are the greatest devils. Government should budget more in security and not waste funds on other things. There will always be diabolic and satanic people among human beings. Only Government can protect the innocent.
How, in concrete term, do you think government can tackle the problem?
God will call our leaders to book. He will judge them for their actions or inactions. If only they can train and equip the teeming youths who are wallowing in joblessness, poverty and idleness to maintain peace; young people that will be trained to protect lives and defend the innocent without bias. They can also install secret cameras to fish out the perpetuators of these wrong doings. They can have them arrested and punished accordingly. They can also monitor happenings in the country via satellite. The media can also do a lot in educating the people, religious leaders and government. They can use their good mediums in creating more awareness.
How do you see the role being played by leaders of NIREC over the religious crisis?
Religious leaders can keep talking to deal with those fomenting trouble. Their mediatory role is a good step in the right direction. I want to commend their efforts so far. But a lot more needs to be done. They must continue to talk to government. They are benefitting from Government, but benefiting from government should not prevent them from telling them the truth. They should tell government when they are err and when they are on the right path. They should tell the masses not to allow themselves to be used by selfish politicians to achieve their selfish desires. They should not sell their votes or mortgage their conscience just because of what they will get in return.
What will you tell faithful of the religion divides?
Humanity is one and humanity cannot fight itself. God will not forgive anyone who attacks the innocent. You have no excuse. We should stop attacking ourselves. It is God that has put both the Muslim and the Christians in Nigeria together. There is nothing we can do about it. So we must learn to live together peacefully. That is the moral law. All Christians and Muslims should come together and fight evil. We should not support evil. We must expose and fight it in all ramifications. We must not fight each other. We must fight corruption, injustice and evil in the land. We should not fight ourselves because of our doctrines and beliefs. We must love ourselves and live together in mutual respect. Here in Ahmadiyya Jumaat, we are blind to religion. Islam is for all.
There seems to be a new political mood among Nigerians today about involvement in politics. Does your sect share in that spirit? Do you feel your people should get involved?
We must continue to encourage our people to vote for good and God fearing people. It is their civic responsibility. Here in Ahmadiyya jumaat, we have been telling our people to follow their conscience. We have been reminding them that it is not only bad or evil people that God will punish, but those who refuse to do something about bringing about good, peace and prosperity in the land. We’re organizing a lot of lectures aimed at educating them. Prayers will not work when people refuse to take action. You can pray forever, if you don’t back it up with the necessary action, you will fail. Prayer will work if action precedes it. Even then, people have options: where there is a credible candidate, people should vote them in. But where there are two devils contesting side by side, they should vote for the lesser devil. If both are devils of the same magnitude, they should not vote for any. In the case of manipulation, there must be due consultation as stipulated in the Holy Quran. If some one fails a s a leader, you can right against such a person. You could also carry out a peaceful protest against them. Good commentaries can be written against such people in the national dailies as a petition against them. Also, the National assembly can also bring such people to book by impeaching them. All these scan help in checking misrule.
Read original post here: “Only prayers backed with action can stem religious crisis in Nigeria”
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